Research Projects

Frequency conversion of intense, ultra-short laser pulses is an efficient way to extend the accessible wavelength regime of lasers towards the extreme-ultraviolet (XUV), i.e., wavelengths well below 100 nm. Such XUV pulses are of relevance to obtain high spatial resolution, as it is important for laser-based lithography and microscopy, or to obtain large temporal resolution by combining broad XUV spectra to super-short attosecond (as) pulses. However, the conversion efficiency of higher-order harmonic generation processes is usually very low. Hence, we apply techniques based on coherent light-matter interactions to control and improve the conversions efficiency. The project deals with experimental implenentations and investigations of harmonic generation, driven by intense (ps) laser pulses in atomic gases, assisted by coherent control schemes to support the nonlinear-optical conversion process.